Crossworks Comments

The Blessing in the Disaster

We seem to have had our share of difficulties in the last year or more. To top it off, our Town was officially declared a disaster zone a few weeks ago and the region is still recovering.

By God's grace, and a few obedient Christians I have seen such miracles of provision through this whole time and His divine purpose being outworked in spite of hardships, I can do nothing but praise Him. I also have been getting my book done in spite of difficulties, when stuck somewhere I just get my laptop out and start writing. Interesting how many times this happens a story in itself. Thought it appropriate to do a blogg so here we are I hope you are inspired.

Over some of the hardship when Kenn was in treatment last year, I cried out to God regarding His promise of restoration. He said, "I am more interested in bringing both you and Kenn and all my children to the place I designed you to be and function out of, than I am in your short term comfort."

This word has not left me, so it has changed the way I pray in hardship.

I am sharing this as God did tell me six years ago that when the drought breaks in Australia, there will be FLOODS to contend with in Australia, (that is plural). There will also be various disasters world wide which will need God's people to be tough to walk out. I believe we are only the first, there is much more to come and we need to be ready as a people of God to help others who do not know Him, and His people need to trust Him, even if things look hard to live through. Watching Kenn through this time as he loved on people and helped as he does with practical things, puts me in absolute awe at the man I am married to.

The miracles that happened through the flood, even though stress levels were higher than the water, and fear tried to take hold of the town, God's hand was amazing here.

Daily we watched the water rise on the three water ways that wind around and through the town. Evacuations happened as people tried to save what they could. Many did like the ants and voluntarily left for higher ground.

The dam which is 4 times the size of Sydney harbor, half filled in one day, then totally filled the next day so the volume of water daily coming toward us was astronomical. As the dam overflowed the water could not get away quickly enough so the rivers started to back up. You would have seen the evacuations and some of the hard stuff on the news. Kenn made friends with the Emergency crews so got a lift some days across the waters that had turned our little area into an island, and helped others where he could.

On the news you heard some of the things, however, they did not tell of the farmers here who were celebrating that now they have a guaranteed harvest for the next few years even if we get no more rain. The rain was actually answered prayer from many of God's people who have come together regularly from all churches to ask God to fill our dam. We should all know by now that our God is a God of the "MORE THAN ENOUGH", so heh we sure got more than we need, and dams down stream are filling as I write. Even those who lost possessions and goods due to the flooding are celebrating the water out here, it means life for so many.

The mines - well we all know the corporations will recover and guess who's businesses get blessed in the recovery process for the mining giants? The local Aussies thats who. There is far more blessing than disaster in this disaster zone.

The full dam means the towns around here are all catered for with water for five years, at least. Every Christian I know who had owned property in the areas that did get affected by the flood had followed the Lord in the last six months into selling and moving without really knowing why. As a result were high and dry.

Some of these also had investment properties and not one was affected. Our own property, which has been miraculous provision from the start, even though technically very close to the Negoa river did not have water come onto the property. It went behind and in front breaking banks but not onto our street. One family we know who WAS in the evacuated areas the water went around them as well. There are so many stories of what looks like it had to be divine protection. The Pastors of a small church here in town had the water go into their garage but it stopped 3 inches from their door into the home.

The ministers who run "Wings of Hope" Pastors Les and Dell Wallen (a ministry into the outback regions), were one of the families led of the Lord to move out of town. Their property, horses and recently acquired cattle, not to mention the plane, were all preserved and even though isolated by the waters for two weeks had enough provisions to get through. All those who work for them in their business were also protected including the non Christians.

The Wallens had two homes that they sold at the end of last year, which many would have called unwise as the position of the properties that backed on to one another was thought to be a very good investment and the prices here had softened, not the time to sell. However God led them to sell, then they put an offer on a brand new home absolutely beautiful and through a series of "coincidences" lost the property to another person who put in an offer over theirs, and they did not find out until it was too late.

As a result they looked elsewhere and were led to the one they now have right out of town and large enough to have a runway for the plane, as well as run horses and cattle to help pay expenses. Both the old properties went under in the flood, reducing their value, and the new home they missed out on went under the water as well.

The opportunities to minister have been huge, as people watch their world, out of their own control, they look for something bigger than themselves. They ARE willing to hear about the God of Creation who is wanting to know them. What stands out to them more than anything is how we can be going through something at the same time, yet have peace, and even when stressed we know we can trust God, this shows, and makes people curious.

To understand just how awesome the hand of God has been in protection of His people you can see the photos taken by a friend, Jon Kirk, as he took to the sky in a plane and got some amazing shots. Can be viewed at http://www.captainkirk.com.au

so am I saying that if you are in a flood God is not protecting you? Or that if you are affected by diaster God is not in your life? no I am definately not saying this. however, I am saying that no matter what you go through God is not taken by surprise and if you take His hand you will go through to the other side and in the long run, like us you will praise Him for the outcome. Whatever you do don't turn away from God you may get stuck and drown in the mess.

All last year I felt the Lord's heart wanting His people to toughen up and grow up. If we do not equip God's people to go through hardship when necessary, we fall way short of being ministers of God. It is with this in mind I write today.

Over the next year it is of utmost importance to listen to the Lord and obey Him no matter what circumstances look like. Teach your people these principles. Do not hold on to anything too tightly, be willing to let go of possessions and positions, yet do not abdicate where God has not said to, He may be wanting to use that which you have influence over, through you.

In all circumstances.

Please, even in hardship ask God these questions.

1. What are You doing here Lord? Please show me your perspective.

2. What, if anything do you want me to do in this situation?

3. How can I just move in Your rest and peace here Lord?

4.Is there anything in me You are wanting to change in this?

5. Father is there anyone you want me to minister to, if so who and what is your word for them?

I pray blessing and divine favor continue in your life as you serve the Lord.

Love as always Lee Bacon

Free Will Choice

This comment was inspired by a conversation within the ministers fellowship of CrossWorks you can apply to subscribe to the fellowship list on the web site.

Free Will Choice how important is it really?

Jim Wallace is a great man of God and we need to continually pray for him, as he is able to influence our government for righteousness.

When Linda and I were in Canberra for that fateful and funny trip, I met Jim and it was when he had just left the military to embark on what he is doing now.

He has a radio show in Canberra, which is how we met, he interviewed me on the show.

The reality is the more God raises these sorts of people up the more the church needs to back them, in every way possible. One of the things he and I discussed on the show was Evolution verses the science of Creation. Jim said "I want my children to learn about evolution otherwise when they get into a world that so totally believes this, they wont be able to cope. Which opened it up for me to get across, that children should have available more than one theory about origins.

God kept telling me to keep it as simple as this ...... We all have the right of free will choice, if we only have the information from one perspective available to our children we have effectively removed their basic right to choose what belief system they will live in.

God created us with free will, the gift to us that actually is the basis of real loving relationship and, without voluntary love out of free will choice, there is no real love at all.

Even though it is His will (God's will) that non would perish but all would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, He has made it so that this can only come from a free will choice otherwise the higher goal of loving relationship with us could not be achieved. If the foundation of relationship is not in place, you have no real relationship.

Real commitment can only come from a person who knows they can at any time choose otherwise. Real commitment is the basis or foundation of real relationship.

I tell people who have not yet received Jesus and the salvation which is supplied to them by the Grace of God this, "I will always uphold your right to choose even though God loves you so much that He has made done all that is necessary, so you do not have to go to hell, and can have a wonderful relationship with Him. He also gave you the right to choose to go to hell, if you really want to, and reject the salvation that is available to you.

Therefor if you have enough knowledge to make an informed decision on the subject of how you will spend eternity, I have done my job. However, if you are stumbling along in ignorance just because you have not been told the truth, and I had the chance to let you know your choices, that is not right.

The problem is in your ignorance you have no real choice because if you do not have all the information needed to make a decision you are not really choosing, you are deceived by whoever is giving you the un balanced information. So what I want to do, is just give you some information for you to investigate your choices properly and I will absolutely respect your decision once you have all the information, how does that sound?"

We as Christians need to up hold freedom to choose and point out how important it is to those who think they live in a democracy but are led along like sheep to the slaughter.

In fact my war cry if ever on air or in the media in the future is this, "I just want every Australian child to have information available to them, ensuring they know what their choices are, in essential areas to build their life upon." and to those who would challenge that "If your position is so strong and good then why are you so afraid to let the young people choose for themselves what is right for them?"

That is one of the insidious things about legalism, it effectively seeks to make robots all the same rather than individuals expressing a free will love relationship with their wonderful Creator.

Love Lee

Miracles, Harvest and People

We, who follow Jesus, have entered a time of personal miracles, Prophetic fullfillment, harvest time of seeds that have been sown generationally, and its definately the time to be alive and serving the Lord.

Having said this its also a time, if we are the sent ones of Jesus Christ to be aware of the responses, reactions and ways of people that have not changed over the centuries. The heart of man who does not serve God is still the same, and we must not be swayed by reactions an responses of other people as we seek to do the will of Him who sends us.

This morning God took me to John 12:9 - 13:17

Have a read, and be prepared because as the miracles are being released among those who just want to glorify Jesus, others will not be happy and some religious folks will even want to kill the miracle, if that was possible. We need to keep our eyes on the one who sends us and push on go to the next level of love and dedication in Him.

At the same time as you examine these passages, and this message, look at your own attitudes when others are experienceing their harvest, miracles. The training of the old man in our soul would tempt us to have disappointment that it is not happening for me yet, twinge of disappointment at personal waiting times can easily develop into jealousy if we are not honest with ourselves and actively seek the God of love to rejoice with those who rejoice. Remember love does not envy. Am I genuinely as excited over the victories of others as I am about my own? If not then I need to repent and ask God for His grace to develop the ability to rejoice over the joy of others.

Sometimes we think even unconciously, that when the miracles start to flow, and the hand of God is stretched toward us, releasing His Kingdom in and around us in greater ways, the world will stop and take notice, they will repent and fall to their faces pleading for God's mercy in their lives and ask how to be saved. Those who were religiously judging us, will be humbled and admit we too are God's chosen. they may even ask us to come preach in their church or at least come to a meeting we organise. Come on be real for just a moment let God shine His light into your heart.

We need to allow God to purge these expectations from our heart as he pours out His Spirit, or the reactions and responses of others will distract us and get us off balance, resulting in us stepping out of the flow.

In John 12:9 - 11 We see these astonishing words.

" Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus." (emphasis mine).

Have you raised someone from the dead yet? Well you must admit if you found yourself moving like this as the power of God is released in you, thats pretty impressive right? Wrong.....

Many of those who you love and have even had Bible times with, some who have lifted their hands in worship while you sang, and some who have even been recipients of your prayers and delight as they had successes, will want to destroy the miracles God is about to do by your hand, or the hand of those around you.

God is letting you know this in advance so you just keep your eyes on Him the one who sent you.

The miracles and the harvest will draw some to Jesus, those who see and hear His voice in the midst of the circumstances, those with eyes to see and ears to hear, but if you read through the passage mentioned in context it is not your concern. In verse 36 it says....

John 12:36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them."

You just need to keep your eyes on Jesus that you can be a reflection of Him.

Get your eyes on the blinded ones ..... and He will again become hidden to you.

Take the time to read this entire two chapters and let God speak to your heart so you can be prepared and equipt to not just have miracles released through you, for a little while, but you can enter into continually flowing with the Father in these days of His Glory and Power to establish His Kingdom on earth.

In verse John 13:16 - 17

"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

(speaking of serving the other disciples/apostles).

The words here - "he who is sent" - the Apostle - is not greater than he who sent him -

If we are truly and Apostle of Jesus Christ, those who are blinded by religious tradition and really want the world to revolve around them, or their church, or their way of doing things, will try to kill the simple and powerful way of just being a disciple of Jesus that is sent of Him into the world, reaping His harvest for His Kingdom, and displaying His miracles by the hand of God.

Love Lee

Here is an excerpt of a letter from Prophet Chuck Pierce.

Stand Firm in the Midst of Emotional Shaking

Thursday, November 2, 2006

"Dear Friends in the Region:

Last week the worship and the word at Glory of Zion were just wonderful. God is shaking the emotions of His people. In this year of shaking we must allow the Holy Spirit to have access to our emotions.

Recently, the Lord began to speak to me out of the life of Elijah. Look carefully at the emotional shaking in the life of Elijah as a model for today! You will gain a good perspective if you will look and meditate on the scriptures at the end of I Kings 18 and the beginning of I Kings 19. Elijah had gained a great victory after 3 1/2 years of battling the demonic structure holding Israel from its future. In this passage we see that he intercedes and brings the word of the Lord from the heavenlies into earth's atmosphere. He has run faster than the present ruling force and gained his authority at the gates of the city. He has overthrown the supporting structure of the ruling force of influence in the nation. Now, he faces the strongman, who happens to be Jezebel. Instead of standing and waiting for the Lord to back him at the gates of the city (representing who will rule in future), he loses his footing! He gets knocked out of his abiding place. He sees the battle ahead and the spiritual forces that are backing Jezebel, and chooses to run! The 40 Day Prayer Focus sent out earlier this week will help you stand and move into your next place of victory. Do not lose ground now and do not let the waves and winds of your circumstances knock you out of your abiding place!"

To Be an Apostle of Jesus Christ first be His disciple.

When Jesus was calling His disciples Matt chapter 4:18 to 22.

It says he called Simon and Andrew, James and John, and the scripture says immediately they left what they were doing. The words Jesus spoke - "Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men".

There were no great benefits declared in their becoming a disciple, or any real pressure applied. Have you ever wondered why they responded immediately, with even James and John, walking out of their fathers business, good old dad lost his workers in one hit.

What on earth was going on here. It was not because they recognised he was the Son of God because it says over in John 3 years later, "finally they realised He was the son of God".

We need a bit of an understanding of Hebrew Culture to understand the dynamic at work here.

In Hebrew culture every boy, from childhood, was trained to be a Rabbi - a long the way they were culled, kind of like we see with rugby teams, or football teams in Australia.

Those who didn't measure up were sent to work in the family business, at each different level.

With our football only the best of the best get to play at a national level. Well its sort of like that for the Hebrew boys, they all longed to go to the next level. You were someone special if you went to the next level.

(A scene was set in and through this cultural mindset - not to remain in it - but to prepare some Hebrew boys for something unique in history)

Now we dont know at what stage of this development in the Hebrew traditions, the disciples of Jesus failed or were rejected by the establishment but some of this preperation they certainly would have done, and they also would have yearned as all Hebrew boys did, to be considered good enough for the next level.

Look at some of the training they went through to try to get picked for "the next level in the institutional framework that was then ministry". We've all seen the adds "pick me pick me" it was like this in their minds.

By age 6 all Hebrew boys must be able to recite word for word the book of Leviticus. By age 12 they were supposed to recite the entire Torah - then they were examined on their knowledge of the Torah, based on how well you questioned the teachers of the law.

If you wowed the teachers of the law with good questions you went on to the Bel Talmud level. This is the cultural setting when we read these scriptures about Jesus .....

Luke 2:42 - "And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. "

Luke 2:46 to 49 - "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

The Bel Talmud lasted 18 years from the age of 12 to 30 - A Rabbi would go to the Bed Talmud and choose from those graduated from the Betsapha and say "FOLLOW ME".

This was the ritual of choosing, and the words that every Hebrew boy from 12 years of age longed to hear from a respected Rabbi, if they were ever to be trained for the ministry.

For those who make it to stage 5 at 30 years old there is a baptism, a water baptism. Any change of status was sealed with a water baptism ceremony. Adoption required a water baptism.

When someone went through the waters of baptism after hearing the words, "Follow me" from the rabbi they were chosen to be discipled by, it was such a thorough change that like the adoption process you were no longer your own, or related the same to your family, - you were now the family of the Rabbi, and he was your father your master your all.

Stage 5 Schmeach - means a person has reached a level of recognised authority -. exousia is the greek equivalent.

To graduate there needed to be 2 or more witnesses who were recognised already to be Schmeach graduates, to say that this person had Schmeach.

A Rabbi with Schmeach was allowed to develop his own yoke. The Yoke to a hebrew means "the interpretation of scripture", or doctrin derived from scripture.

If you did not have, or had not been recognised and declared to have reached Schmeach you had to follow the yoke of your Rabbi.

The most amazing thing about the Yoke of Jesus, that was so very different from the other Rabbi's, was His revealing of the character of God - the gentleness and humility of God, He said God is love.

Some of the scriptures refering to His yoke were prophesied....

Isa 9:4 - 7 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

The yoke of the past has to go, only the yoke of Jesus can be taken on board if you truly want to live in the Kingdom of God.

Isa 10:27b And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

When I see people going into transition, the Lord often has me pray for them annoint them with oil and speak release and sanctification, that they be set apart and sanctified for the purposes of the King Jesus, and His Kingdom.

It has been a very powerful dynamic in God and only the start of restorative miracles that we see take place time and time again as people just co-operate with King Jesus and allow His Spirit to lead them into all truth. Jesus is the truth.

"Oh Lord sanctify us to your yoke, your truth, your will and your Kingdom come. Break every blindness that we may see your glory."

Isa 58:6 - 8 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. "

Back to the Hebrews boys....

Some of the times where Schmeach was discussed, recognised, challenged and questioned - are easily recognised even in English or Greek in spite of language differences the tone is there.

"By what authority do you teach?" (exhousia or authority)

"By what authority did John the Baptist teach?"

Once Baptised, whether having Schmeach or not, the Rabbi went to get disciples. Most Rabbis went to the Bed Talmud to pick out of the students the best for their Disciples.

A Rabbi would want to pick students that could be better than him.

Jesus says, "My Yoke chose fishermen - workers - those who had been rejected by the Bel Talmud".

Jesus disciples came from either those rejected by the dominating religious system, or some were actually disciples of John the Baptist.

Jesus' First Disciples

John 1:35 - 40 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother."

Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus came on the scene and His time for rising up to accomplish the will of God was evident, John the Baptist had the appropriate response - "John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."

"Oh Lord help us not only do what we are called to do in the preparing of others to bring your Kingdom to manifest in the earth, help us when we must decrease so the next layer of your building can increase. Help us see it, help us to make way for it and help us to praise You for that which You are doing"

When Jesus came to the fishermen and said "follow me", He came as a Rabbi with authority to train them for ministry. Think about it these men had longed to be chosen as young men, they had been disqualified from ministry and sent home to learn the trade of their fathers.

That's why when a Rabbi came by who obviously spoke with schmeagh, and said "Follow me", it was such an opportunity that they dropped everything for the opportunity to be taught for the ministry.

Just a thought for further development later.........

What is Jesus saying here?

Mat 23:8 - 13 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

"And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus is saying He is the last Rabbi with Schmeagh, there will be no one after him that can create another yoke. His yoke will forever be the yoke of the Kingdom. - The yoke of the ministry. The teaching and perspective of the word of God that we are all to adhere to.

Mat 11:25 -30 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

These Hebrew men knew exactly what Jesus was talking about when He invited people to take His yoke. That is why these could say with conviction -

Acts 15:10 -12 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. "

and

Gal 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

2 Pet 1:17 -20 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.

(Emphasis mine)

Here Peter is declaring that Jesus authority to interpret scripture was not only recognised, as was custom, by two or three earthly witnesses, Peter is refering back to the mount of transfiguration where Moses and Elijah, the most recognised authorities regarding the word of God, who would know if someone was misrepresenting the way God intended His word to be used, and Father God Himself declared "this is my Son hear you Him." The words declared when a Rabbi was reconised and graduated with authority to interpret scripture.

Jesus Yoke teaches the Kingdom of God,.

When I first came into the things of God and was baptised in the Holy Spirit, I could not understand that no one in the church was talking about or teaching about the Kingdom of God, everyone was talking about lots of other things. Holy Spirit was constantly showing me in the word the things of the Kindgdom. My first sermon in Bible College, a mostly male Bible College I preached to the other students the importance of teaching about the Kingdom of God.

Many of them thought I meant Kingdom verses church or something and that had nothing to do with it. An honest open reading of scripture shows Jesus preaching and teaching about the Kingdom of God, the disciples and Apostles talking and preaching the Kingdom of God.

The church is not where you go on a Sunday even though all that is good, the Church is you and you are also the Kingdom of God on legs , Jesus wants to release His Kingdom everywhere you go.

Jesus considers it a very important subject - Gods Kingdom and King are central to understanding scripture properly.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." ...

was said to people who taught and recited scripture. What is Jesus saying here.?

I've heard it said that scriipture says "in the last days there will be a famin of the word of God". Derived from Amos 8:11

I beleive what is being expressed here, in the heart of the pastors who are carrying it, is simply that like what happened with Israel, that the word of God was taken so far from what He originally intended for it, that there will once again be so little of the word of God as it is connected to His thoughts in writing it.

When Jesus said "when the son of man comes will He find faith in the earth? - that is speaking of "pistis" - persuasion credence conviction of truthfullness of God - total and utter reliance on Jesus Christ. That is not speaking of a doctrin of faith, it is speaking of "will He find persuasion, credence, conviction of His own truthfullness in our hearts, total trust and reliance on Him." In other words His yoke.

Are we not once again living amongst those who hold fast to their traditions and in so doing, make of no effect the very word of God they so vehemenently speak about - simply because its filtered through private interpretation or tradition.

John the Baptist had schmeach - at the baptism of Jesus - and again at the mount of transfiguration - God's recognition of Jesus as His Son in whome He is well pleased, "HEAR HIM" - is a declaration or witness by the Father Himself, of His authority to correctly interpret the scripture, and the application of it, or create a yoke to be followed. Jesus was recognised and declared by the witness of Father Holy Spirit priestly order (John), to be the authorative son of the living God who alone had the level of relationship, with the Father, to be able to declare truthfully what God's intention of His written word, His will and testament, is. What purpose it has and what God is wanting to accomplish in the earth.

The foundation of Jesus Christ - His declaration of the Character of God - His interpretation and application of scripture, the law of God, the eternal principles of God, the commandments to be adhered to, in the covenant He and the Father were establishing, the better covenant. These are the authorative teaching or schmeach yoke, that disciples of Jesus Christ, or those who call themselves Christians, are to adhere to - practise - and preach.

God's love, His gentleness with His people, His unfailing commitment to fulfil covenant with those who He makes covenant with, His patience. Why does Jesus declare, "The Kingdom of God is peace love and joy in the Holy Ghost". Because this is His yoke, it is one that will have the word of God accomplish what it is sent forth to do, and will ensure it does not return to Him void.

It is a more powerful and explosive yoke than anything man had ever seen in their tradition and interpretation of scripture that very often declared God's judgement as a harsh and cruel thing.

Jesus said that, "the goodness of God leads a man to repentance". What a strange yoke or treatment of scripture it must have been to the Hebrew mind.

If you had no schmeach - you had to follow teach preach the yoke of your Rabbi. You could not interpret scripture for yourself.

If Jesus has called you to the ministry guess what? You are called to teach and preach His Yoke.

Pastor Les Wallen when I shared this with him looked up the word "burden" from where scripture says "my burden is light", he said it means "The price I will charge you for using". Hmm some are paying a high price to be in ministry could this be a key as to why.

Are we really disciples of Jesus? Do we wear His yoke and teach it?

If not can we call ourselves Apostles of Jesus Christ?

Love and blessings

Lee